Edition Q4.23
BLUESTAR RETAIL & Payment NEWS
Welcome to our Q4 edition of the Retail and Hospitality Newsletter.
As 2023 draws to a close, we reflect on the year and what has enabled us to be successful. One aspect stands out – it’s intrinsic to everything we do and underpins our complete approach and that’s partnership; be that with our vendors, reseller partners, or, more recently, ISVs. In this edition, we take a closer look at how ISVs are becoming an increasingly vital part of our value proposition to our reseller partners and the benefits that relationship can bring to ISVs and Resellers alike. The advantages of forging such a partnership might not immediately be obvious so in a nutshell:
Partnering with a BlueStar reseller – what’s in it for me as an ISV?
Helps drive incremental software sales by accessing BlueStar’s extensive reseller and vendor community by:
- Attending our regional events. Allows you to network with potential reseller partners for software in your target region.
- Demoing your software solution in one of BlueStar’s showroom facilities. These are visited frequently by vendors and resellers and will allow them to see your software in a live environment.
- Building a close relationship with a wide portfolio of hardware vendors will raise your company’s profile with vendors and partners alike
- Certifying your software with a range of hardware vendors thanks to our extensive multi-vendor pool of demo products
- Promoting your software offering in BlueStar marketing communications where relevant
…….Gives you more exposure, more hardware flexibility, and more sales!
Partnering with a BlueStar ISV – what’s in it for me as a reseller partner?
- Enables you to provide a complete solution to your user. If you are focused primarily on hardware sales, working in conjunction with an ISV allows you to offer a complete solution and minimise the risk of competition in the deal.
- Enables you to sell new applications to existing users. Most partners are looking for additional revenue streams within their existing customer base. Working with ISVs with applications that fill gaps in your portfolio allows you to address more challenges with your user and be involved in more aspects of their business.
- Allows you to partner with an ISV and be a “safe pair of hands” for hardware integration. By introducing ISVs to opportunities within your customer base, the ISV will also regard you as a reliable partner for hardware lead referral so both parties benefit.
……Gives you a stronger user proposition, mindshare, and more sales!
We will shortly be launching an exciting, new ISV programme to bring you closer to partners in your region. Look out for more information in our Newsletters and events. To continue the theme and to better familiarize you with our network of ISVs, we’ve also incorporated them into this edition’s Solutions highlight and share the reasons they work with BlueStar.
In other news, we have recently expanded our reach in EMEA with the opening of offices in UAE, Saudi Arabia, North and South Africa to better serve our partners in the region. Please contact us if you would like to be put in touch with our colleagues there.
Lastly, a massive thank you from everyone at BlueStar for your continued support and business in 2023. We wish you a successful close to 2023 and look forward to working with you again in the New Year.
Sponsors
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Solution Spotlight
Introducing Next-Gen Hospitality Solutions
Discover the future of hospitality solutions powered by Smart Volution and Qikserve software, combined with state-of-the-art hardware. Learn how BlueStar can connect you with the ideal ISVs and provide precisely tailored hardware, ensuring a seamless integration that meets diverse end-user requirements. If you are interested in any of these solutions, feel free to reach out to your account manager or make a purchase through the BlueStore.
Hospitality Kiosk Solution
Discover the XK22 kiosk by NCR, an all-encompassing hospitality solution designed for various needs, from kiosk ordering to pay-at-table services. With a 21.5” PCAP touch-screen display, robust Intel Core® CPUs, and integrated peripherals like a 2-D imaging scanner and thermal receipt printer. Whether managing kiosk functionalities or facilitating on-the-go ordering* the XK22 and QikServe software provides efficient, ADA-compliant solutions for diverse hospitality environments.
*functionality subject to specifications
Hospitality POS Solution
Explore Register by Smart Volution, an advanced, cost-effective EPOS system for the hospitality market, enhancing efficiency by optimizing covers, managing reservations, and reducing no-shows. Equally important is the Android hardware; recently we’ve been recommending the Microtouch MACH 15.6” Android All-in-One touch computer, boasting commercial-grade robustness and a consumer-grade design for superior functionality. Complete the hospitality point of sale solution with Star Micronics' TSP143IV receipt printer and CD4 cash drawer, it seamlessly integrates with Register for enhanced connectivity and versatile cash transaction management.
Ordering Solution
Unveiling an innovative trio: Qikserve software, the MACH 15.6” Windows All-in-One touch computer, and Star Micronics' mUnite EZ Floor Kiosk Stand. With a sleek commercial-grade design and a powerful 12th gen Intel® Core™ i3 processor, the MACH AIO ensures unmatched functionality. Paired with Qikserve and the mUnite Kiosk Stand, patrons can effortlessly check-in and place orders, reducing labor costs and enhancing operational efficiency*. This modern solution delivers a game-changing customer experience, resulting in a 30% spending increase and a 47% order accuracy.
*subject to specifications
Testimonial
Smart Volution
Smart Volution is an ISV that purely sells EPOS software and we need a trusted partner to direct resellers to in order to purchase the total hardware solution. This includes printers, mobile and desktop EPOS hardware, cash drawers, and scanners. BlueStar fulfills this important role for us and our reselling partners with excellence. BlueStar offers a one-stop shop, is a safe pair of hands, and offers outstanding support both for Smart Volution and our resellers. They are highly responsive, keep up with trends and technology, provide enjoyable and useful networking events and are great people to work with.
Testimonial
QikServe
QikServe provides digital ordering and payment software for the hospitality industry, in 43 countries around the world, enabling hospitality operators to transform their operations, increase revenue, and enhance the guest experience. Strategic partnerships are a key aspect of QikServe’s ability to serve over 7,500 locations. BlueStar fulfils an important role for QikServe, as they offer a one-stop shop for hardware that complements QikServe software. BlueStar offers a wealth of experience backed by excellent products, services, and support for QikServe and its resellers.
What’s an ISV and why should you care?
Software solutions are an increasingly important feature of the retail technology landscape. After examining what we actually mean by an “ISV”, we look into how the plethora of Independent Software Vendors interact with BlueStar, our vendors and our partners, and how working with them more closely can benefit the channel. We also look at how BlueStar marketing activities such as events can benefit ISVs and those looking to work with them more closely, as well as the importance of getting the right hardware alongside these software solutions.
Events
Year-End Recap
Richard Austin
November was a busy one for events with BlueStar and our partners, especially on the Retail and Hospitality side. Here are just a couple of the highlights from an action-packed quarter.
First, we had our Nordics ISS in wonderful Copenhagen, a large event attended by resellers from all countries in the region and with representation from Retail and Hospitality vendors including Custom, ELO, Epson, NCR, and Star alongside numerous other BlueStar vendors. Solutions on offer included self-checkout and self-service, labelling for food safety identification alongside the latest POS solutions. We also had a presentation from one of our ISV partners on an innovative Softpos solution for taking payments on Android devices, including several BlueStar vendors’ mobile devices.
Also in November, we had a record turnout for our annual POS event, which we held this year at the National Space Centre in Leicester. This was a product-focused event, with over 10 manufacturers represented, including APG, ELO, Epson, Invue, Lenovo, Microtouch, NCR, Star Micronics, and Zebra as well as numerous ISV partners joining us for the day. Highlights included a sneak peek at some of Sunmi’s new products range such as the T3 Pro, Star’s MC-Label, Invue’s innovative tablet mounting solutions and kiosk hardware solutions from ELO, Ergonomic Solutions, and many more.
Check out our videos for more background on these brilliant events.
Events
Looking Ahead
Amy Masterman
BlueStar's Retail & Hospitality Team is thrilled to hit the road next year! Brace yourself for not just one, not two, but THREE major expos—NRF, ISE, and EuroCIS. But that's not all! We're hosting exclusive after-hours networking events at NRF and EuroCIS! Secure your spot to connect directly with our EMEA Business Development team and Vendors by registering for our events on either January 14th or 27th February. Get set for a high-flying start to 2024, packed with innovation, networking, and groundbreaking tech. Are you ready?
